Sturgis advertiser. (Sturgis, Dakota [S.D.]) 1887-1???, 1887-11-02

L
to business and great fertility of re-
source in that line, but the average
Southern soldiers could easily discount
him at his favorite pastime. Like the
school boy who robbed henroost at
Christmas, he stole part for fun and
part for proht, but the amino furandi,
the furious intention" was lacking.
He reasoned about 1t as the negro did
who was caught stealing corn from his
masters crib: "Massa niger, massa
corn" He was fighting for the peo-
pie who renamed at home, and con-
tribution in kind, if not in money, was
justly his due; and so he collected his
taxes himself as occasion offered, and
without the formality of receipt.
On the march if not too near the
enemy, if hog ventured too near, a
few soldiers would ask permission to
drop out for moment, which the
sergeant was sure to grant. Soon q
gun would be heard, and in an incred-
IDLY short time the men would be
marching demurely in their proper
places, with nothing suspicious about
them except an unusual fullness Of
haversacks. A hog was butchered
without the usual formalities of scald-
ing and scraping. The skin was taken
off in strips. and, | dare say no pack
ng-house in Chicago ever dismem-
bered an animal with more .'neatness
and dispatch than these marauders.
When in camp or bivouac soldier or
two, noted for impudenc. and intelli-
gence, would call on some honest
farmer near by, and discuss religion or
| politics or the war, as the most agree
able to him, while their co-conspira-
tors were quietly applying sulphur to
the noses of favorite hens and ROSTERS
and carrying them away to camp.
Occasionally military epicure would
steal hive, bees and all, and remove
it before robbing it. This feat does
not quiet equal the stealing of red
hot stove, but is something in the same
line.
One affair, of which I was an eye
witness, was very ludicrous. Wewere
in parole camp during the winter of
1864 at Enterprise, Mississippi, and,
of course, in winter quarters. The
cabins were constructed with the strict
est regard to economy in labor and
material, although the latter was in
wasteful abundance. A mud chimney
eight feet high was fairly in proportion
with the rest of the structure. This
description is necessary in order to
understand what follows. At this time
wheat -four was almost unknown in
the lower south, and an occasional ra-
ton of it was hailed rs d god-send.
1t was on such an occasion that a half
wltted soldier could be seen through
his open cabin-door carefully baking
some biscuits for supper. One of my
men told me to take post in the dark
ness outside SO as to command a view
of the fireplace, and to await results.
Very soon l observed a commotion in
the cabin. 1t was suddenly filled
with smoke, and when this cleared
away the occupant appeared to be
counting his biscuit. He gazed around
the room in a sort of dazed way. looked
under his bunk, and finally peeped out
doors, as If looking for something.
While this was Transporting the wag had
joined me, with hot biscuit in his
hand, and explained his modus
operandi. He had rolled block near
the chimney, and, armed with piece
of pine bark and long, sharp stick. he
mounted it, inserted his stick in the
chimney and waited. When his victim
lifted the lid to inspect his treasures,
the bark closed the mouth of the chin
ney. driving the dense pine smoke into
bis face, binding and sitting him. In
an instant biscuit was stuck, whisked
up the chimney and the joker was
gone. This was repeated until the
terror-stricken cook fled from his hut
in dismay, with the firm belief that the
devil or witch had possession, and
was carrying off his supper on broom
stick. And such continued 10 be his
belief, and it must be confessed that it
was founded upon much better evil
dence than that usually given in sup
port of ghost story.
The siege of Vicksburg, tragic as it
was to US. was not without its come
dies. Our brigade was made up of
three Mississippi regiments and the
Three Louisiana This last regiment
was one OF the first to enlist, and was
mainly composed of young Creoles
who were full of frolic and fight. There
was little sympathy between the Mis-
sissippians and Louisiana boys, and
the latter sometimes amused themselves
at our expense. They had glee club
and poet, and both friends and foes
were often entertained, at night, with
some fine singing and very original
tsongs. One, l remember, was paro-
dy on my Maryland" and the follow
ing refrain was sung in honor of the
Misslssippians:
You all will stay at home and blow,
You will not go to meet the foe,
For fear you might get hurt, you know,
Mississip, my Mississippi
Another song had this chorus:
Swear, boys, swearl Vicksburg shall meier
surrender;
Swear, boys, swearl that not one vandal
foe
fend her
Unless the rations should get dernition
lowl
A most timely reservation, as the
event proved. Still another almost rose
to the dignity of poetry, and was plain
tive and touching. A part of one verse
remember: